Best Overland Truck Campers: How to Compare

The best overland camper is the one that fits your truck, your payload and the way you actually travel. Truck campers come in three broad styles, and each suits a different kind of trip. This page walks through what to compare, then shows how Cascadia Overland Co.'s three campers, the Frontier, the Summit and the Apex, line up. Everything we sell is designed in Monroe, Washington, and installed and supported at our shop there.

The three camper styles

• Wedge pop-up. The roof lifts at one end, so you get a tent-walled sleeping and sitting space that folds down to a very low profile for driving. Lightest and simplest, best for one or two people.
• Wide-body (full) pop-up. The whole roof lifts, giving standing room front to back and space for three or four people. Still light enough for most full-size and many mid-size trucks.
• Slide-in pop-up. An insulated body, a proper interior and four-season use. The heaviest and most capable option, and the one that needs the most payload.

What to compare

• Weight against your payload. Add the camper, options, water, gear and passengers, then compare the total to the payload sticker in your door jamb. Our weight calculator does the arithmetic for the Apex.
• Season. The Frontier and Summit work year-round with the optional thermal liner and built-in diesel heater ports. The Apex adds an insulated, fully welded aluminum body if you want the warmest interior.
• Mounting. Clamp-on campers come off without leaving holes in the bed. Slide-ins are built to your bed length.
• Setup effort. Gas-strut lifts let one person open a pop-up in a minute or two. A slide-in pop-up like the Apex raises its roof by hand, or with the optional electric lift.
• Materials. Aluminum structures and stainless hardware hold up in wet climates. The Apex is fully welded aluminum with no wood.
• Support. Ask who installs it, who services it and what the warranty covers before you buy.

Cascadia campers at a glance

Deciding between the two pop-ups? Read Frontier vs. Summit. Choosing between canvas and a rigid shell? See canvas vs. hard-wall campers, or use the camper comparison tool to put models side by side.

Buying direct from Cascadia

We sell direct, so you talk to the people who design, install and support the campers. Fitment is confirmed from your VIN and a few bed measurements (see the vehicle measurement guide) before anything is built. Frontier and Summit can be installed at our Monroe, WA shop or shipped disassembled to the contiguous US for free. All campers carry a 24-month limited warranty, and the Apex adds a 5-year structural warranty. Current prices are on each product page and current build times are on our lead times page.

Questions? Call (425) 908-0259, email sales@cascadiaoverland.com, or browse all campers.